Understanding the caribbean stud paytable is essential whether you’re a recreational player or someone studying table games seriously. I still remember the first time I sat at a Caribbean Stud table: the dealer slid five cards to me, and the thrill of weighing whether to fold or raise hinged entirely on a paytable I hadn’t fully memorized. That night taught me that knowing the paytable, dealer qualification rules, and a few sound strategic rules can materially change your long-term results.
How Caribbean Stud Works — Quick Primer
Caribbean Stud Poker is a head-to-head poker variant played against the dealer rather than other players. The standard process:
- You place an ante bet (and optionally a progressive/side bet).
- Both you and the dealer receive five cards — you see your cards and one dealer upcard.
- You decide to fold (lose the ante) or raise (usually twice the ante) based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard.
- If the dealer does not "qualify" (typically with ace-king or better), the ante pays even money and the raise is returned (push). If the dealer qualifies, hands are compared and the paytable determines raise payouts when you win.
Because payouts for winning raises are fixed by the caribbean stud paytable, memorizing the table and the dealer-qualification rule is one of the fastest ways to improve decisions at the table.
Standard Caribbean Stud Paytable (Base Game)
The table below shows the commonly used raise payouts you will see in many casinos. Note that some casinos vary one or two payouts (especially for four of a kind), and progressive jackpots are handled separately.
| Player Hand | Raise Payout | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 100 to 1 | Player has A K Q J 10 of same suit |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 | 5 cards in sequence, same suit (not royal) |
| Four of a Kind | 20 to 1 | Four cards same rank |
| Full House | 7 to 1 | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| Flush | 5 to 1 | Five cards of same suit |
| Straight | 4 to 1 | Five sequential cards of mixed suits |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 | Three cards same rank |
| Two Pair | 2 to 1 | Two different pairs |
| One Pair (or less) | 1 to 1 | Pair or high card (when winning) |
Always check the posted caribbean stud paytable on the specific table you sit at; a small change to 4-of-a-kind or the royal payout can shift the house edge noticeably.
Dealer Qualification — Why It Matters
Dealer qualification determines whether your raise will be paid when the dealer’s hand is judged. The standard rule: the dealer must have at least Ace–King high (sometimes referred to as "ace–king or better") to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify:
- Your ante wins 1:1.
- Your raise is returned as a push (no win, no loss on the raise).
If the dealer qualifies and you have the better hand, the ante pays 1:1 and the raise pays according to the caribbean stud paytable above. If the dealer qualifies and has the better hand, you lose both ante and raise.
How Payouts Are Calculated — Examples
Example 1 — Basic win:
- Ante = $10, Raise = $20 (2x ante).
- You win with a flush; dealer qualifies and loses.
- Ante pays $10 (1:1) and raise pays 5:1 on the $20 -> $100. Total return = $110 plus your original raise returned? (Note: the payout amounts are the amount won — check local table rules for how the original wager is returned). Net profit = $110 - $30 wagered = $80.
Example 2 — Dealer does not qualify:
- Ante = $10, Raise = $20.
- Dealer doesn't qualify.
- Ante pays $10 (1:1); raise is returned (push). Net profit = $10.
These differences mean that even if you have a modest hand you may profit simply because the dealer fails to qualify. That’s why the qualification rule is central to both strategy and expectation.
House Edge and Variance
Caribbean Stud’s house edge on the base game (without progressive side bets) is higher than many other table games — typically around the low-to-mid single digits (roughly 5% on average depending on the exact paytable). That means the casino’s edge is meaningful, so you should treat the game as one with higher expected loss per hour than blackjack or baccarat when played without perfect conditions.
Variance is medium: you’ll see frequent small wins (pairs or high-card wins) and occasional larger payouts (three-of-a-kind and above). The presence of a progressive jackpot or side bet increases variance and usually increases the house edge on the base game as well.
Basic Strategy Guidelines
There is no perfect strategy that eliminates the house edge, but following disciplined rules reduces mistakes and improves outcomes:
- Raise with any pair or better. This is the single most consistent rule.
- Raise with Ace–King when your remaining three cards are stronger (for example, if you have Ace–King with a high second card and potential straights/flushes). Many players adopt the practical rule to raise with Ace–King if your kicker is at least a Queen or you have at least three cards to a straight/flush. Exact play tables from game analysts can refine this.
- Fold weak unpaired hands — low high-card hands (like 7-4-3-2-9) are usually folds, even if one card matches the dealer’s upcard.
- Pay attention to the dealer upcard: certain visible dealer holdings change the risk of continuing.
- Never chase the progressive jackpot by changing base-game stakes; treat the progressive as a separate entertainment cost and only bet at levels you can afford.
These are practical, widely taught heuristics. If you want more technically optimized play, consult a published strategy chart from a reputable game analyst that calculates the precise expected value for every possible upcard/hand combination.
Progressive Side Bets — What to Watch For
Many Caribbean Stud tables offer a progressive jackpot side bet. The side bet typically pays when you hit a high-ranking hand (royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, etc.). Progressive side bets change the overall math in two ways:
- They offer life-changing jackpot potential (especially for a royal flush), which adds excitement and variance.
- They increase the house edge on the base game unless the progressive meter is very large relative to typical hits.
If you play the side bet, consider it entertainment rather than strategy; only place it when you accept a higher expected loss in exchange for the chance at a large payout.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Not checking the posted caribbean stud paytable before playing — small paytable changes matter.
- Chasing losses with raises instead of folding into weak hands.
- Misunderstanding dealer qualification — always confirm the exact rule at the table.
- Over-betting the progressive — keep side-bet wagering within your bankroll plan.
Practical Bankroll Tips
Because the house edge is meaningful and variance is moderate, set a session bankroll you can afford to lose and decide beforehand how many raises you’ll risk. A useful approach: size your ante to allow 50–100 hands at your target stake as a minimum session bank to avoid short-term tilt and bankroll erosion. Adjust this if you plan to include progressive side bets.
Where to Study Paytables and Practice
Before you play for real money, study multiple caribbean stud paytable variations and practice at low-stakes tables or reputable online simulators. If you want a starting resource to compare rules and typical paytables quickly, visit authoritative game guides and casino policy pages — and always check the specific paytable on the physical table you’re about to play.
For a quick reference and additional resources that discuss classic paytables and game variations, you can review keywords.
Final Thoughts and Table-Level Checklist
Caribbean Stud is a compelling mix of poker and casino structure. The caribbean stud paytable determines large portions of the game’s expectation and should be your first study point. Before sitting down to play, run through this checklist:
- Confirm the raise payout table (royal through pair).
- Confirm dealer qualification rule for that table.
- Decide whether to play the progressive side bet and how much you’ll allocate to it.
- Apply the core strategy rules: raise with pair or better; use caution with unpaired hands.
- Set a session bankroll and stick to it.
When I started applying these checks and a conservative raise rule, my sessions became less stressful and my results stabilized. If you want to dig deeper, compare table-specific paytables and review published strategy charts — and remember that even good strategy cannot overcome the house edge indefinitely, but it can make play more enjoyable and disciplined.
For further reading and a comparison of different casino tables and rule sets, see this resource: keywords.
